Congratulations, that's quite a find. Sorry to hear about the issues, hope you can find a solution. The only two typospherians I know who own a Graphika are Richard and Adwoa.
Hi Rob, it could be that I have inadvertingly put the wind up my fellow typewriter enthusiasts by re-counting my awfull experience that I had 50 years ago which might just have been due to my inexperience handling that particular Olivetti. Now that the carriage is free-wheeling you have no option but to take the carriage off. Please let me know how you get on...
John, thanks. I just e-mailed you but you are right. There's nothing to do but a carriageotomy. I'll prepare the operating theatre and get into my scrubs. Watch this space.
Your enthusiasm for a successful surgical procedure has inspired me to get down into the "Dungeon", i.e., the workshop where the halt and lame have been accumulating, and make some progress on the broken draw bands, skippers, un-linked keys, ribbon advance and reversal issues, etc. etc.
Best of luck - the worst outcome would be a stunning doorstop.
Thanks Tony, I'll have the world looking on. Daylight is practically gone today so I'll be pulling on my rubber gloves tomorrow, with luck. One problem at a time and remember, there's no rush - at least that's what I tell myself when involuntary four letter words start to come out.
Reading about these Graphikas has me wondering, because of something Richard P said about his Cassandre model. I've got an Olympia Universal from 1955ish that has "Congress" typeface and will do the double spaced lettering, Richard called it "Sperrschrift". So far I've not been able to get it to advance while typing, although the carriage moves freely - seems to be an escapement issue. I've had it apart twice, and it's been to a typewriter repairman but to no avail. Is this one of those tricky Graphika type escapements that so few seem to know how to deal with, and do any of you know how to "fix" them. The Universal is a beautiful "beast" of a machine, and I'd love to see it working! Thanks for any advice.
Hi Donald, I'm sorry but I am not familiar with the Olympia Universal. If it is like the standard size SG, I'd guess that the carriage comes off quite easily. Then, I'd obsessively press keys and watch what happens to levers poking up which would normally engage with the carriage. Then, with your fingers, push at the parts on the underside of the carriage (you may need a second pair of hands) to see if anything moves either under spring tension or, if you have unhooked the strap, the force of gravity. On the Graphika, it turned out to be a tiny spring that had come off. If you see any where that looks like it would retain a spring and there's nothing - that could be your answer. Also, if there are concentric toothed wheels governing the amount of space the carriage can go in one stroke, these need to move freely on any bearing. If they are gummed-up with old oil, a couple of drops of lighter fluid or white spirit should dissolve it after a few hours, if not instantly. The hard part though, is spotting stuff that should be there but isn't. If you know someone with the same machine in working order, you might prevail on them to take a few photos of the relevant bits. Also, if the carriage has been taken off and put back on wrongly, there might possibly be some unbending to do. I hope this is of some help. It will work again, it is just a matter of when.
Thanks Rob, I left Mark Petersen @TotallyYourType a note because he has one, and asked if he could photograph his escapement, and works. We'll see if that helps. I might need to find a good old time typewriter repair guy. Although I fixed my own Woodstock #5 that a supposed repairman said couldn't be fixed! Anyway, thanks for your advise!
What a gorgeous Graphika. Fixing a proportionally spaced typewriter must quite a different proposition once the carriage's off. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThere's so little Graphika info out there, I'll try to publish a blow-by-blow account of my exploration of this one.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, that's quite a find. Sorry to hear about the issues, hope you can find a solution. The only two typospherians I know who own a Graphika are Richard and Adwoa.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I don't think that's either of the known Graphika typefaces.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall the carriage being very hard to remove or replace; it's much like the Lexikon system.
Hi Rob, it could be that I have inadvertingly put the wind up my fellow typewriter enthusiasts by re-counting my awfull experience that I had 50 years ago which might just have been due to my inexperience handling that particular Olivetti. Now that the carriage is free-wheeling you have no option but to take the carriage off. Please let me know how you get on...
ReplyDeleteJohn, thanks. I just e-mailed you but you are right. There's nothing to do but a carriageotomy. I'll prepare the operating theatre and get into my scrubs. Watch this space.
DeleteYour enthusiasm for a successful surgical procedure has inspired me to get down into the "Dungeon", i.e., the workshop where the halt and lame have been accumulating, and make some progress on the broken draw bands, skippers, un-linked keys, ribbon advance and reversal issues, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck - the worst outcome would be a stunning doorstop.
Thanks Tony, I'll have the world looking on. Daylight is practically gone today so I'll be pulling on my rubber gloves tomorrow, with luck. One problem at a time and remember, there's no rush - at least that's what I tell myself when involuntary four letter words start to come out.
DeleteI'm actually quite smitten with the Kermit look!
ReplyDeleteIt does have a high cute factor!
DeleteThat's pretty cool. I keep hoping I'll find one. Good luck, I'll be following your posts.
ReplyDeleteSometimes things turn up when you don't look too hard for them.
DeleteReading about these Graphikas has me wondering, because of something Richard P said about his Cassandre model. I've got an Olympia Universal from 1955ish that has "Congress" typeface
ReplyDeleteand will do the double spaced lettering, Richard called it "Sperrschrift". So far I've not been able to get it to advance while typing, although the carriage moves freely - seems to be an escapement issue. I've had it apart twice, and it's been to a typewriter repairman but to no avail.
Is this one of those tricky Graphika type escapements that so few seem to know how to deal with, and do any of you know how to "fix" them. The Universal is a beautiful "beast" of a machine, and I'd love to see it working! Thanks for any advice.
Hi Donald, I'm sorry but I am not familiar with the Olympia Universal. If it is like the standard size SG, I'd guess that the carriage comes off quite easily. Then, I'd obsessively press keys and watch what happens to levers poking up which would normally engage with the carriage. Then, with your fingers, push at the parts on the underside of the carriage (you may need a second pair of hands) to see if anything moves either under spring tension or, if you have unhooked the strap, the force of gravity. On the Graphika, it turned out to be a tiny spring that had come off. If you see any where that looks like it would retain a spring and there's nothing - that could be your answer. Also, if there are concentric toothed wheels governing the amount of space the carriage can go in one stroke, these need to move freely on any bearing. If they are gummed-up with old oil, a couple of drops of lighter fluid or white spirit should dissolve it after a few hours, if not instantly. The hard part though, is spotting stuff that should be there but isn't. If you know someone with the same machine in working order, you might prevail on them to take a few photos of the relevant bits. Also, if the carriage has been taken off and put back on wrongly, there might possibly be some unbending to do. I hope this is of some help. It will work again, it is just a matter of when.
DeleteOops, Sorry I meant that I have an Adler Universal with "Congress" typeface. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Donald, Steve at writelephant has one, I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you what he can if you drop a comment in his story about it.
DeleteThanks Rob, I left Mark Petersen @TotallyYourType a note because he has one, and asked if he could photograph his escapement, and works. We'll see if that helps. I might need to find a good old time typewriter repair guy. Although I fixed my own Woodstock #5 that a supposed repairman said couldn't be fixed!
DeleteAnyway, thanks for your advise!
Sounds promising - good luck in your quest. Sometimes, in the absence of anyone more qualified, you just have to BE the repairman.
Delete